The nurse who answered the phone to two Australian DJs pretending to be Britain’s Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, has reportedly died by suicide. The Daily Shift’s Aoife Bennett reports… 

Prince William and The Duchess of Cambridge leave the King Edward VII hospital earlier today

Jacintha Saldanha, the nurse who answered the now-notorious prank phone to Kate Middleton’s London hospital ward on Tuesday morning, has been found dead in her apartment in London. While her death is not being treated as suspicious, police believe she died by suicide.

Her body was found at 9:30 this morning in her flat in a nurses accommodation block just yards from King Edward VII hospital. Ms Saldanha had worked in the hospital for over four years. Two ambulances, along with paramedics  and the emergency services, were called to the scene but she could not be resuscitated.  Her death comes two days after she replied to a hoax phone call from Australian radio presenters who had pretended to be Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip in an attempt to speak to the Duchess of Cambridge.

The hospital released a statement earlier paying tribute to Jacintha. “She was an excellent nurse and a well-respected and popular member of staff with all her colleagues.” The hospital also confirmed she had been the victim of a recent hoax call and that staff had been supporting her through this time.

Prince William and Kate, through St James’ Palace, also released a statement, saying they were “deeply saddened” to hear of Ms Saldanha’s death. “Their Royal Highnesses were looked after so wonderfully well at all times by everybody at King Edward VII Hospital, and their thoughts and prayers are with Jacintha Saldanha’s family, friends and colleagues at this very sad time.” The Duchess was released from hospital yesterday, having been admitted in Monday for treatment of acute morning sickness.

The Australian DJs behind the prank, Meg Greig and Michael Christian, have deleted their Twitter accounts following the death. The Sydney-based station they work for, 2DayFM, has not yet made a statement relating to the death.